Chapter 1-Comfort IN Life
(10 Years Earlier – Town of Honfaza, Two Days Before the Yearly Magic Festival)
The rich aroma of roasted meat filled their small home, making young Arata’s stomach rumble. He sat eagerly by the table, his wide eyes fixed on his mother, Sayaka, as she carefully cooked their dinner—the very meal they had hunted together that morning.
"Mom, how did you get so good at hunting?" Arata asked, chewing as fast as he could.
Sayaka chuckled, shaking her head as she stirred the pot. "Well, when my home felt like a stranger’s place, a kind chef took me in. He gave me time to settle in, then taught me how to hunt, work for myself, and all the other things a father should teach his son."
Arata blinked. "But Mom… aren’t you a girl?"
"It’s ‘woman,’ sweetie," Sayaka corrected with a small laugh. "And yes, but his wife taught me how to be a proper lady, how to take care of a home… and even how to win a man’s heart."
She glanced at Arata and chuckled as she noticed the mess he had made—his cheeks covered in sauce, his shirt stained from his hurried bites.
"And it looks like I’ll have to teach you about table manners too," she teased, wiping his face with a cloth.
As night fell, Sayaka tucked Arata into bed, brushing his hair back as she smiled softly.
"You know what tomorrow is, right?"
Arata’s face lit up. "The festival! I can’t wait!"
Sayaka smirked playfully. "Wait, what did you promise me?"
His excitement faltered for a second, but then he nodded quickly. "I’ll behave! I promise!"
"Good," she whispered, leaning down to press a kiss against his forehead. "Now sleep well. You’ll need all your energy for tomorrow."
As she stepped into the other room, her smile slowly faded. Her gaze drifted to the dim lantern light flickering against the walls. She remembered the words spoken to her the night Arata was born.
"This is not to weaken him… but to protect him."
She clenched her hands into fists, swallowing the lump in her throat.
"I thank you for giving me the resources to take care of our child… but I believe I don’t have much time. Please, look over him, my love."
The festival lights outside flickered in the distance, but Sayaka barely noticed.
Something deep inside her told her… this was the last festival she would ever see.
(The Next Day – Morning in Honfaza)
The morning sun bathed their small home in warm light as Sayaka opened the windows, letting the fresh air sweep through. The gentle breeze brushed against her face, carrying the scents of dewy grass and distant festival preparations.
"The wind missed me," she murmured with a small smile.
Peeking into Arata’s room, she found him still curled up in bed, his slow, steady breaths rising and falling in peaceful rhythm. With a soft chuckle, she quietly closed the door.
"I need to bathe and get his breakfast ready before he wakes up."
---
Breakfast & Life Lessons
As Sayaka set the plates on the table, she couldn’t help but smile.
"He worked so hard just to go to the festival. He deserves to wake up to a great meal!" she said enthusiastically to herself.
Ten minutes later, just as she was about to wake him, she found Arata already up, eagerly getting dressed.
"I see you’re already up. Do you know what today is?" she teased with a knowing smile.
Arata spun around, his face lighting up. "OF COURSE I DO! IT’S FESTIVAL DAY!"
Sayaka chuckled. "Okay, okay, calm down. It’s still morning. First, we eat, then we finish our chores. After that, we’ll head to the festival."
Arata’s excitement deflated instantly. "Aww man, we still have to do chores?"
"Of course we do," Sayaka said, patting his head. "Now come eat before the food gets cold."
As they sat at the table, the morning air filled with the comforting aroma of freshly cooked rice and grilled meat. Five minutes into the meal, Sayaka’s voice shifted, carrying a weight that hadn’t been there before.
"Arata… you know I won’t be here forever, right?" she said gently.
Arata blinked mid-bite, his excitement fading. "B-but why?"
Sayaka placed her chopsticks down. "Well, for starters, I’m not immortal. But… there’s another reason. One you won’t understand until you’re much older."
"Why won’t I understand? I can understand a lot of things now!" he protested.
Sayaka smiled faintly, but there was sadness in her eyes. "Sweetie, if I were to die right now, what would you do? How would you survive?"
Arata hesitated. "Well… umm… umm…"
"Exactly," Sayaka said firmly. "That’s why I need you to listen carefully. If something ever happens to me, I want you to go to Mizukaza. Find a man named Zetsubo. He’s my brother—you can trust him like you trust me."
"But—"
"No buts," she cut him off, her tone uncharacteristically sharp. "Wear this bracelet when you go. He’ll recognize it, and he’ll know who you are. Just follow him, and he’ll take care of the rest."
Arata looked down at the bracelet on his wrist, running his small fingers over the intricate designs. The idea of losing his mother wasn’t something he could comprehend—not yet.
"Why are you telling me this, Mom?" he asked quietly.
Sayaka reached across the table, resting a warm hand on his head. "Because my number one goal is to make sure you survive. No matter what. I love you, and I will always protect you."
Arata swallowed the lump in his throat. "I love you too, Mom."
They sat in silence for a moment before Sayaka clapped her hands together, her usual energy returning.
"Alright, enough gloomy talk! Let’s finish up and get these chores done. The festival won’t wait for us!"
Arata nodded, forcing a smile. He didn’t know why, but his mother’s words clung to him, leaving a strange feeling in his chest.
A feeling he would only understand far too late.
—
(5 Hours Later – Outside the House)
Five knights stood before the small home, their cloaks shifting slightly in the night breeze. Their leader raised a hand, his voice low and firm.
"Activate the suppression magic. Make sure it''s powerful—remember, she’s no lightweight."
Two mage-knights stepped forward, beginning the incantation. A pulse of divine energy rippled through the air, forming an invisible radius around the house.
Inside the spell’s range, all magic would be severely weakened.
---
(Inside the House)
Sayaka hummed softly as she finished preparing snacks for her and Arata. The warm scent of grilled skewers filled the home, but just as she turned to set the food down—her body tensed.
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A chilling wave of pressure crashed over her.
Her magic—it was fading. Fast.
Her breath hitched. They’re here…
Only they have the power to drain me like this.
"Mom, who are you talking—"
Sayaka whirled toward Arata, her expression sharper than he had ever seen it.
"No time. Under the floorboards. Now!"
"B-but—"
"NO BUTS! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"
Arata flinched at the rare force in her voice. He swallowed hard and nodded. "Y-yes."
Sayaka exhaled, kneeling beside him for just a second. Her eyes softened.
"Good. Stay hidden. No matter what you see, no matter what you hear—do not make a sound. I love you."
Arata felt his mother’s hand rest on his head briefly before she pulled away. He barely had time to crawl under the wooden boards before—
BOOM.
The front door exploded inward.
---
(The Knights Arrive)
Sayaka grabbed her hammer, its weight familiar in her grip. She reached for her enchanted stones, shattering one against her chest—the spell within surging through her veins, mitigating the suppression effect as much as possible.
Footsteps. Five sets. Heavy armor clanking.
A knight stepped forward, unrolling a parchment, his voice monotone, hollow—as if this was just another task to complete.
"Sayaka Shirogone, by decree of the Divine Order, you are sentenced to execution on the fifth day of March.
Your crimes:
The unrightful birth of a child,
The theft of a sacred divine artifact,
Failure to return said artifact upon request.
Your refusal to comply has sealed your fate. May your soul find mercy."
Three knights unsheathed their swords, their steel glinting in the dim lantern light.
Sayaka tightened her grip on her hammer, her heart pounding—but not with fear.
With fury.
She let out a slow breath, leveling her gaze at the intruders.
"I want all of you bastards to know… I will not go down without a fight."
Her stance shifted slightly, feet planted firmly.
"And as for my son—" she smirked, fire in her eyes. "You’ll never find him."
Fight Scene (Opening Sequence - Sayaka RUSHES IN)
The moment the knight finishes reading the execution order, Sayaka moves.
No waiting. No fear. Just pure instinct.
The wooden floor shatters beneath her as she explodes forward, closing the gap before the knights can react.
The first knight barely has time to widen his eyes before—
CRACK!
Sayaka’s hammer collides with his chest, crushing his armor inward like a tin can. His body rockets backward, slamming into the wooden wall with a sickening crunch.
Before the others can react—
She spins, bringing the hammer around in a brutal arc.
The second knight barely lifts his sword in time—but it doesn’t matter. Sayaka’s sheer force shatters the blade like glass, sending shards flying. The impact sends the knight skidding across the ground, choking on his breath.
Two down in seconds.
The remaining three knights hesitate. Good.
Sayaka rolls her shoulders, shifting her grip on the hammer.
"You wanted a fight?" she growls, grinning despite the odds. "Then step forward and die."
The leader of the knights clenches his jaw. "Suppress her. Now!"
The divine suppression magic pulses stronger, and Sayaka feels it immediately. Her body grows heavier, her speed slows slightly, but—
She’s still standing.
And she’s still faster than them.
The third knight lunges forward, attempting to take advantage of the spell’s effect—
Big mistake.
Sayaka ducks low—too fast for him to adjust—and slams her hammer into his kneecap.
SNAP.
He collapses with a scream, his leg bending in a way it was never meant to.
Three down. Two left.
Sayaka inhales sharply. The suppression is weighing her down now, more than before. She’s strong, but five knights and a divine spell? Even she has limits.
The last two knights don’t hesitate. They rush in together, blades ready.
Sayaka grits her teeth and tightens her grip.
I won’t let them take me easily.
She charges again.
The Battle Turns
Sayaka charges forward, hammer swinging. The last two knights brace themselves.
? She’s fast—but slower than before. The suppression magic is taking its toll.
Still, she doesn’t stop.
?? She refuses to stop. ??
One knight lunges in, blade flashing. Sayaka sidesteps, hammer swinging up in a brutal uppercut—
?? CRACK! ??
The knight’s helmet bends inward, his body whiplashing backward as he slams into the floor, unmoving.
One left.
Sayaka’s breath is ragged, her limbs heavy. The divine suppression feels like chains wrapped around her body.
But she still has enough left for one more swing.
She tightens her grip, lunging at the last knight. His sword rises to meet her—
But this time—
? She’s too slow.
?? SHHNK! ??
Pain.
Blinding, searing pain.
She stumbles, eyes wide as she feels warmth spreading across her stomach.
The last knight’s blade is buried deep in her abdomen.
For the first time in the battle, Sayaka staggers.
Her grip on the hammer weakens slightly.
The knight, panting heavily, pushes the blade deeper, twisting it.
"You… should’ve just accepted your fate."
Sayaka grits her teeth. Her knees nearly buckle. But instead of collapsing—
?? She swings.
With her last ounce of strength, she smashes the hammer into his ribs.
?? CRACK! ??
The knight is sent flying, his body skidding across the wooden floor, coughing up blood. He’s not dead—but he won’t be getting back up anytime soon.
But neither will she.
---
Sayaka’s Last Moments
She stumbles backward, the world spinning.
The blood pooling at her feet is hers.
Her grip on her hammer loosens, fingers trembling.
She falls to her knees.
Her vision blurs, but she forces herself to look toward the floorboards where Arata is hiding.
"Arata… my baby boy…"
She can’t see him. But she knows he’s there.
"I love you so much."
Her breathing hitches. The warmth starts fading.
Her body grows cold.
She forces a weak smile.
"Grow up strong."
With that final whisper, Sayaka collapses.
She doesn’t get back up.
The house fell silent.
The only sound left was the drip, drip, drip of Sayaka’s blood pooling beneath her.
The last standing knight staggered to his feet, clutching his ribs, wincing in pain. He looked down at her lifeless body, his grip tightening around his sword.
"Tch… stubborn woman."
The knight glanced toward his fallen comrades, three unmoving, one barely breathing.
"She killed three of us… injured another… and nearly took me with her."
He exhaled sharply, then turned to the other knight who was still conscious.
"Confirm the body. Then search the house."
The other knight, limping, stepped forward. He knelt beside Sayaka’s motionless form, pressing two fingers to her neck.
A few seconds passed.
He shook his head. "She’s gone."
The knight leader gave a stiff nod.
"Good. Now… where’s the boy?"
---
Under the Floorboards
Arata didn’t move.
He didn’t breathe.
He wanted to scream. To cry. To run.
But he stayed still. Just like his mother told him to.
Her blood had seeped through the cracks in the floorboards, dripping onto his hands.
It was warm.
His mother’s warmth.
Now fading.
Now gone.
The knights'' boots thudded against the wooden floor, getting closer.
"Search the rooms. If he’s here, we take him alive. If not… he won’t last long on his own."
Arata clenched his fists. He had to stay hidden. He had to survive.
Just like his mother told him.
Just like she died for.